Periodical vendor



J. F. SKOLD PERIODICAL VENDOR March 26, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1961 INVENIOR JOHN F. SKOLD -FIG.1

March 26, 1963 J. F. SKOLD PERIODICAL VENDOR Filed June 26, 1961 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 7 JOHN F. SKOLD; @Z 7g FIG.2

March 26, 1963 J. F. SKOLD I I 3, 8

PERIODICAL VENDOR Filed June 26, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 F l 3 INVENTOR.

JOHN F. SKOLD March 26, 1963 J. F. SKOLD PERIODICAL VENDOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 26, 1961 -1NVENTOR. JOHN F. SKOLD ofl fi March 26, 1963 J. F. SKOLD 3,08

7 PERIODICAL VENDOR Filed June 26, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.5

INVENTOR.

' JOHN F. SKOLD March 26, 1963 J. F. SKOLD PERIODICAL VENDOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 26, 1 961 INVENTOR. JOHN F. SKOLD 6 United States Patent 3, 32,910 PERIGDZCAL VENDQR John F. Skold, mileage, ill. Filed June 26,, 1961, Sea". Isle. 11?,477 1 Claim. (Cl. 221-35) This invention relates in general to vending machines and more particularly to a coin operated machine for vending periodicals such as newspapers and magazines.

Prior machines of this general character are classified in two, general classes, one being the type in which a coin unlocks a door which provides access to a stack of papers or magazines for removal by the user and is commonly called an honor system vendor.

A second type of machine requires the loading of periodicals on trays or other complicated mechanism for the sequential delivery of same upon the deposit of proper coin. This type of vendor is expensive to manufacture and service and requires excessive time for loading.

The former prior machine is unsatisfactory since its function is dependent upon the honesty of the user and the latter prior machine is fraught with mechanical difficulties, particularly because of the outdoor and unfavorable environment in which the machines are commonly used.

The present invention overcomes the above objections and disadvantages by the provision of a machine in which an entire stack of newspapers or magazines may be inserted. at one time and upon the deposit of a predetermined coin, and the operation, of a single lever, will sequentially release a single periodical for descent to an exposed delivery rack for removal by the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a feeding mechanism in a casing for urging the entire stack of periodicals toward a delivery device whereby the sequential operation of the latter will release the foremost periodical in the stack for gravity descent to the user when operated.

A further object of; the invention is the provision of a coin'operated delivery device responsive to the movement of a lever for raising and releasing the foremost periodical ina stack for descent to, delivery position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a delivery device for engaging the foremost one of avertical. stack of periodicals by means of a pair of needles and raising same from the said stack andreleasing the periodical for gravity descent upon the operation of a lever. V

A further object of the invention is the provision of a delivery device for separating and releasing the foremost one of a stack of periodicals upon the movement of a lever when released by a coin and including dash-pot means for retarding the restoration of the delivery device to permit suificient time for the released periodical to.

descend by gravity to the user.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of the machine are described and shown in the following specification anddrawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the-periodical-vending a hin FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation taken through section line 2-2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3. is a cross-sectional plan view taken through section line 3-3, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of; the delivery device in themachine, shown with the front of the casing broken away.

FIG. 5. is a fragmentary side elevation taken through section line 5-5, FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of elements, shown FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is the same as FIG. 5 in changed position.

Referring to FIG. 1, a rectangular casing 1 is supported by four legs, as shown, and is provided with a door 2 which may be fully opened for the convenient loading of the machine with periodicals.

The door is provided with a window 3 for displaying the title page of the foremost periodical in the stack retained in the machine. A coin entry 4 is adapted to receive coins of predetermined denomination and an opening handle 5 is positioned for convenient operation. A coin reject button 6 and a coin return pocket 7 are conveniently positioned in the door. A delivery chute 8, terminates through an aperture in the cabinet and is provided with retainer lips 9-9 for temporarily retaining a vended periodical descended thereto.

The machine illustrated in the drawings will sequentially vend periodicals consisting of both magazines and newspapers, and for convenience, the following description will be limited to newspapers.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a stack of newspapers are supported by a pair of rails lid-lit which are secured to the rear of the casing l, as shown, and positioned at a predetermined downward descending angle and secured to a cross member 11 which is supported at the sides of the casing 1, as shown.

The lower end of each rail ll) terminates in an integral upturned book 12. A pusher-plate 13 is supported at opposite upper ends by rollers 14-14 which are retained for rotation on studs 15-15 which are secured in offset flanges 13-11 of the plate. Each roller is retained in a channel member 16-16 secured on opposite inside surfaces of the casing. 1 and positioned in parallel relation to rails ill.

A pair of links 17-17 are pivotally secured on studs 19-19 by brackets 18-18 in the bottom of the casing 1.

A pair of second links Zil-Zil are independently pivoted to links 17' by studs 21-21. The upper ends thereof are pivoted at a lower portion of pusher-plate 13 by shoulder screws 22-22. A main tension spring 23 is secured at one end to each link 263 with the opposite end thereof retained by a bracket 2 in the base of casing 1. A

counter tension spring 25 is secured at its lower end to stud 19 and its upper end secured to the pusher-plate 13, as shown FIG, 2. i

A stabilizing spring 26 is secured at its lower end to each link 17 and its upper end secured to each rail 16, as shown.

Thus, the pusher-plate 13 is normally urged forward and is capable of movement from the position shown in full lines to the, position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

It is now apparent that when the door 2 is opened, a stack of newspapers may be pushed against the pusherplate which will move rearward and the stack permitted-v to rest edgewise by gravity on the rails lit-ill. The pusher-plate will urge the entire stack forwardwith. the lower edge of the foremost newspaper resting against the hooks 1-2-12.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show the delivery mechanism which is mounted on a chassis 2'7 retainedtotthe front door 2 of the casing by screws 28-23 and other means, not shown.

A pair of parallel'flanges 29-29. of the chassisv serve as a support for a main shaft 3% which is journalled for rotation in bearings 31-31 secured in flanges 29, as shown, by screws 32, FIG. 2.

Each of a pair ofparallel positioned delivery 'bars.33 are independently supportedby upper links 34 and lower links-35 which pair of links are piyotally. connectedio.

63 by studs 6-: and 65, as shown.

3 at their opposite ends to flanges 29 by shoulder screws 37, best shown FIG. 2. A stop stud 38 projects through an aperture 39 in flange 29 for limiting the range of movement of bars 33 when operated.

A pick-up bracket 40 i pivotally secured adjacent the inside surface of each bar 33 on each upper shoulder screw 36, shown FIG. 5. Bracket 46 is provided with an upper stop portion 41 and a lower stop portion 4-2 for limiting the range of movement with respect to bar 33. The upper end of bracket 4% is coupled to shaft 3% by means of a lever 43 secured to shaft 30 and a connecting link 44 pivotally secured to bracket 4%) and lever 43 by studs 45. A needle holder 46 is secured to each bracket 46 with a transverse bore therethrough for holding a paper piercing pin or needle 47 therein by means of set screws 48, as shown FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, a cam plate 49 is secured to each link 35 by lower screws 36 and a screw 56 with the outer end thereof positioned to engage stop 4-2 for rotating the discharge bracket when the bars 33 are raised to their upper positions for the purpose of withdrawing the needles .7 to their retracted position, as shown in FIG. 7. The upper stops d1 of the bracket 49 limit the retracted positions of the needles 47, with respect to bars 33, and the lower stops 42, limit the projected position of the needles 47, with respect to bars 33.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of arms 51-51 are secured to shaft 3% and coupled to links 5252 by shoulder screws 53-53. The lower ends of links 52-52 terminate in a pair of pins 54-54 which are engaged in slidable lock plate 55 whichis part of a coin release mechanism illustrated by dotted line 56 and not shown in detail. The plate 55 is normally locked in its lower idle position, FIG. 4, by elements in the coin actuator, not shown. The operating handle is secured to a shaft 57 journalled in a bracket 58 secured to the inside surface of chassis 27.

Referring to FIG. 4, a lever 59 is keyed to shaft 57 and adapted for movement between stops 66' and 61 in chassis 27. A link 62 is coupled to an actuating lever The lever 63 is pivoted at one end on stud 66 secured in chassis 27 and the outer end of the lever terminates in a fork 67 which is in permanent engagement with a pin 63 in the plate 55. A spring 69 is secured to the lever 63 by stud 7%,at one end and its opposite end secured to the chassis 27, as shown. Thus, all of the elements are normally urged into the idle positions, shown in full lines in FIG. 4, with the handle 5 substantially horizontal, as shown in FIG. 1.

A hydraulic dash-pot means 71 is pivoted at its lower end on a stud 72 secured in chassis 27 with the piston rod 73 thereof pivotally secured to lever 63 by stud 74.

The dash-pot is constructed to provide freedom of movement of lever 63 in an upward direction and a predetermined retarded movement when the lever 63 is returned by spring 69 to its normal rest position.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, a ratchet member 75 is secured to chassis 27 with the teeth thereof in the path of movement of a pawl 76 pivoted on lever 63 with a spring 77 biased between the pawl and the lever 63 for normally urging the latter'in its central position, as shown. The purpose of the ratchet and pawl is to prevent incomplete movement of the actuating lever 63 when the latter is operated.

In operation, and when a coin of proper denomination is deposited in the actuator, not shown, the lock plate 55 is released thus permitting the operating handle 5 to be manually depressed which will raise the bars 33 from normal rest position, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, to a discharge position, as illustrated in dotted lines.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7 and under the assumption that a stack of newspapers are edgewise loaded on rails 18 and urged forward by pusher-plate 13, the lower edge portion of the foremost paper will bear against the hooks 4 1Z12 on the rail 10 and the needles 4747 will have partially pierced the lower portion of the foremost newspaper.

Upon the downward movement of operating lever 5, the bars 3333 will rise and the foremost paper will be raised therewith by virtue of the needle engagement above the hooks 1212 thus permitting the pusher-plate 13 to forwardly displace the stack of papers on the rails a distance corresponding to the thickness of one newspaper and simultaneously displace the foremost paper beyond the hooks 12-42. Continued downward movement of handle 5 will also displace the bars 33 upward and forward and momentarily relieve the frictional engagement between the first and second periodicals. The simultaneous action of cam 4? will move discharge brackets 44(l and withdraw the needles 47-47 from engagement with the newspaper permitting same to descend by gravity into the. discharge chute 8, as illustrated by dotted lines, shown FIG. 7. The final gravity descent of the vended paper will be arrested by retainer lips 9, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

Following each operation of the machine, the return movement of the handle 5 under the influence of spring 69 will be retarded by the dash-pot 71 sufficiently to permit the complete discharge of the foremost paper since the rapid return of the bars 33 would impede the descent of the vended paper.

When the last paper is delivered from the rails, the pusher-plate 13 will be in close proximity with the window 3, and for convenience to the user, a sold-out sign painted thereon would be clearly visible.

It is now apparent that sequential operation of the handle will discharge each paper retained in the machine by the action of the pusher-plate 13 which will move each paper against the hooks 1212 for automatic engagement by needles 47-47.

Certain modifications in the above construction utilizing the features described are intended to come Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A machine for vending periodicals comprising a means forming a casing, a rail means fixed in said casing positioned at a predetermined incline for slidably retaining a' stack of periodicals in edgewise transverse relation thereon in substantially vertical position, said rail means terminating in an upturned stop means'at the lower inclined end thereof, a substantially vertical pusher-plate pivoted in said casing and positioned above and transverse said rail means for moving said stack toward said stop means, spring actuated means connected to said casing and said pusher-plate for urging the latter against the rear of said stack with the lower edge portion of the foremost periodical in said stack urged against said stop means, a'pair of parallel spaced discharge bars pivoted on a link means to the front of said casing and positioned above and substantially normal to said rail means for movement from an idle position in close proximity to said stop means to a discharge position upward and forward therefrom for normally retaining said stack and for releasing the said foremost periodical therefrom when moved to said discharge position, pin means pivoted and articulated on each of said arms for piercing engagement with said foremost periodical when said bars are in said idle position and adapted to be moved upward with said arms for raising said periodical from said stop means, and adapted and constructed to disengage from said periodical when said arms are moved forward to said discharge position for releasing said periodical to descend by gravity, a delivery chute in said casing under said stop means and said barsfor conducting each periodical gravity descended from said stack from said casing, a coin actuated lock means in said casing for normally locking said bars in said idle position, link means connecting said lock means and said bars for releasing the latter for movement when said lock means is coin actu- 6 ated, an operating lever journalled for oscillation through References Cited in the file of this patent said casing, a transmission means connecting said lever UNITED STATES PATENTS with said bars for operating the latter when said lock 1,600,623 Chesnut et al. Sept. 21, 1926 means 1s released for releasing said foremost periodical 2,258358 Harvey Oct 7, 1941 to descend by gravity into said delivery chute. 5 2 992 756 Ray July 18 1961 

